Tobacco Additive Device

Abstract

The invention provides apparatus for treating prepared tobacco by inserting the tobacco in an enclosure, either as "loose" tobacco alone or in a temporary container or as a smokers' article such as a cigarette, cigarillo or cigar, and applying suction or fluid pressure across the matrix of tobacco so as to result in a flow of fluid therethrough for the purpose of introducing a treating substance to be carried by the flow of fluid into the tobacco.

Description

This invention relates to apparatus for treating prepared tobacco to apply finely divided and fluid substances thereto. In this specification the term "prepared tobacco" indicates tobacco which has been reduced from leafsize to a condition suitable for inclusion in a pipe or smokers' article without further cutting or shredding.

Sometimes it is desirable to add various substances to tobacco for use in a pipe or in smoking articles. These substances may be for instance: flavours and casing solutions containing menthol or licorice; burn or ash control substances; various humectants or medicines such as ephedrine or narcotic substances; and psychogenic drugs including canabinol or euphoric agents. All manner of substances, including finely-divided powders, solutions and dispersions, may be infused through or coated upon strands of tobacco by the apparatus of this invention.

According to the present invention tobacco is treated by inserting the same in an enclosure, applying a differential of fluid pressure across the enclosure so as to result in a flow of fluid through the tobacco, and introducing a treating substance into the flow of fluid so as to be carried into the tobacco.

The differential of fluid pressure may be obtained by applying suction at a first location of the enclosure, or a greater than atmospheric pressure, e.g. as from a propellent fluid, at a second location of the enclosure, but it is preferred to use both suction and pressure together or successively as it has been found that this results in a particularly thorough permeation of the tobacco matrix by the treating substance.

Where a propellant fluid is used, the treating substance may be applied separately to the enclosure, but it is preferred to include the treating substance in the propellant fluid ab initio, or to obtain mixing of the propellant fluid and the treating substance immediately prior to application to the tobacco in the enclosure.

The tobacco may be inserted in the enclosure when in a loose condition, e.g. for the treatment of pipe tobacco, or loose tobacco may be temporarily housed in a receiver such as a cartridge or tube from which it is removed after the treatment. The tobacco may also five-eighths inserted into the enclosure when incorporated in a smokers' article such as a cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar, which may therefore be treated by the smoker himself, as well as at the factory where they are made.

Apparatus for carrying out the invention comprises broadly means for supporting the tobacco in an enclosure, means for applying a differential of fluid pressure across said enclosure so as to result in flow of fluid through the tobacco, and means for introducing a treating substance into the flow of fluid, so as to be carried into the tobacco.

As it is advantageous to use both suction and pressure to obtain passage of the treating substance into the tobacco, it is preferred to provide means for applying to the enclosure, at one location thereof, a propellant fluid at greater than atmospheric pressure, and means for applying to the enclosure, at another location thereof, a lower than atmospheric pressure.

For applying suction, the apparatus may have a body in which the enclosure is housed, a casing being slidable sealingly on said body, in the manner of a piston and associated cylinder, and defining an internal space which communicates with the enclosure.

For applying greater than atmospheric pressure, the apparatus may include reservoir means containing the treating substance under pressure, and means for controlling flow of said treating substance from the reservoir means to the enclosure.

In a preferred form of construction, there are provided means for applying suction at one location of the enclosure, and other means for introducing both propellant fluid and the treating substance at another location of the enclosure. Fore example, there may be provided reservoir means for the propellant fluid, reservoir means for the treating substance, and a mixing and control valve connected to both of said reservoir means. For practical and commercial considerations, it is advantageous if at least the reservoirs, and preferably also the mixing and control valve, constitute an assembly which is removable and replaceable as a whole when re-charging is required.

The treating substance may be in the form of liquid or gas adapted to carry dissolved or dispersed substances through the tobacco matrix and leaving a coating thereon or impregnation therein.

A single cigarette may be treated by placing it within a rigid tube, applying suction to one end of the tube, for instance by extending the tube by movement of a plunger or sleeve to create a vacuum at one end of the cigarette and simultaneously or shortly thereafter propelling treatment substance through the cigarette from the other end by blowing a mixture of Freon gas and menthol for instance from an aerosol can into the tobacco rod.

This treatment can further be applied to a group of articles simultaneously, such as a pack of 20 cigarettes or cigarillos; or it may be applied to a rod in a continuous rod cigarette machine by periodic pulses of carrier fluid applied to sections of rod later cut apart.

Some embodiments of devices for treating finished smokers' articles, in accordance with the invention, are hereinafter particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in elevation, of a first embodiment of cigarette treating device; the operating handle being shown in an alternate position in dotted lines

FIG. 1A is a view of the device of FIG. 1 in a different stage of operation, parts being broken away for illustrative convenience;

FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in elevation, of a second embodiment of cigarette treating device;

FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in elevation, of a modification of the cigarette treating device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in elevation, of a third embodiment of cigarette treating device;

FIG. 4A is a view of the device of FIG. 4 in a different stage of operation, parts being broken away for illustrative convenience; and

FIG. 5 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in elevation, of a fourth embodiment of cigarette treating device;

FIG. 6 is a central longitudinal section, with some parts shown in elevation, of a fifth embodiment of cigarette treating device.

FIG. 6A is a view of the device of FIG. 6 in a different stage of operation, parts being broken away from illustrative convenience;

Referring to FIG. 1, and FIG. 1A the cigarette treating device comprises a tubular metal casing 1, which might be for example about 5 and 1/8 inches in length, 1 and 1/8 inches in depth in the plane of this drawing, and plane of an inch in width normal to the plane of the drawing. The casing 1 has a wall portion 2 which cooperates with a closure 3 to define a chamber 4 to receive a cigarette 5. The closure 3 is carried by integral arms 6 mounted by pivots (not shown) on lugs 7 secured to the wall portion 2. The closure 3 can be pivoted into an open position, as shown in broken line, in which it permits manual insertion of a cigarette 5 into the chamber 4. It can also be pivoted into a closed position, as illustrated in full line, in which it forms a substantially fluid-tight closure to the chamber 4. Within the casing 1 there is provided a transverse wall portion 8 carrying an integral tube 9 having a first opening 10 in a portion of the wall 8 against which one end of the cigarette 5 is butted during insertion. Another opening 11 of the tube 9 communicates with a bellows chamber 12 defined between the wall 8, an internal transverse wall 13 of the casing, a resiliently-deformable bellows 14, and end plate 15 of the bellows, and an operating handle 16 for the bellows, said handle being slidable movable in a substantially fluid-tight manner in an external opening 17 defined by the casing 1 and the walls 8 and 13.

In the wall portion 2 there is removably engaged an outlet nozzle 18 of a mixing and control valve 19 having a first inlet 30 connected to a reservoir 21 of a product for treating the cigarette. The valve also has a second inlet 22 connected to a reservoir 23 of a propellant fluid. An opening and closing control 24 of the valve is connected by a pivot to one end of a link arm 25 connected at its other end by a pivot to one arm of a bell crank 26 pivoted on a bracket 27 mounted on the reservoir 21. The other arm of the bell crank 26 extends through a slot in the wall 13 so as to be presented for abutment by the end plate 15.

The operation is as follows:

The handle 16 is pulled outwardly to its fullest extent, as shown by the broken line, in FIG. 1 thereby compressing the bellows. It is assumed that the handle 16 would be a frictional sliding fit in its opening 17 sufficiently to remain in the open position against the resilient force exerted by the bellows. The closure 3 is then swung into its open position, and the cigarette 5 is inserted in the chamber 4 with its left-hand end, in this drawing, abutting against the wall 8 at the opening 10. The closure 3 is then swung into its closed position. The handle 16 is then pushed firmly inwards in the direction shown in FIG. 1A so as to extend the bellows 14 and create a lowering of pressure in the chamber 12, and thus suction in the tube 9 and through the cigarette butted against the wall 8. As the handle 16 is moved inwardly, the end plate 15 trips past the longer arm of the bell crank 26 as shown in FIG. 1A and opens the valve 19 for a short period. This releases, through the outlet nozzle 18, a short burst of a mixture of propellant and treating product which passes into the cigarette chamber 4 and thereafter passes through the cigarette as a result partly of its own greater than atmospheric pressure and partly of the suction being applied to the remote end of the cigarette. After a short interval, the closure 3 is again pivoted into open position, and the treated cigarette extracted. The same operations can be repeated, for treatment one by one of a plurality of cigarettes, for as long as the contents of the reservoirs 21 and 23 are still available.

The casing 1 has a removable end cap 28 to provide access to the chamber 29 in which the assembly of valve 19, reservoir 21, and reservoir 23 are housed. This assembly, including the valve operating means 24, 25, 26, 27, would be made as a separable unit which could be inserted as a sliding push-fit into the chamber 29, and which would be replaced by a fresh unit when exhausted.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown in a second embodiment of cigarette treating device comprising a cylindrical body 30 on which a casing 31 is longitudinally slidable in fluid-tight sealing manner. The body 30 has a removable end cap 32 to permit the insertion into a chamber 33 of an assembly consisting of a mixing and control valve 34, a reservoir 35 of treating product, and a reservoir 36 of propellant fluid. In the body 30, there is secured a tapered seating 37 having at its smaller end an opening to receive, as a push-fit, an outlet nozzle 38 of the valve 34. The casing 31 has a removable end cap 39 to permit the insertion of a cigarette 40 into the casing with one end firmly and sealingly engaged in the tapered seating 37 adjacent the valve nozzle 38. The valve 34 has a control rod 41 which, when pulled longitudinally in the direction away from the valve, opens the valve. On the casing 31 there is provided a lug 42, and a tension spring 43 is connected to the rod 41 and the lug 42.

The operation is as follows:

With the casing in its inward position as illustrated, the end cap 39 is removed and a cigarette 40 is inserted. Then the casing 31 is pulled firmly in the direction of the arrow "A" with respect to the body 30. This causes a lowering of pressure in the chamber 44, causing suction in the cigarette to result in a flow from the end adjacent the valve 34 to the end adjacent the end cap 39. At the same time, the valve rod 41 is pulled by the spring 43 and opens the valve, thereby releasing a mixture of propellant and treating product through the nozzle 38 into the cigarette. The casing 31 is then returned to its rest position, the end cap 39 removed, and the treated cigarette extracted. The assembly of valve 34, reservoir 35 and reservoir 36 would be made as an integral unit which could be removed and replaced by another unit, through the end cap 32.

Referring now to FIG. 3, which shows a modification of FIG. 2, the construction and operation are exactly the same as described in relation to FIG. 2, with the exception that the valve 34 is secured fixedly in the body 30, and has two piercer inlet tubes 45 and 46 which serve respectively for engagement into reservoirs 47 and 48 respectively for propellant fluid and for treating product. The pierceable cap portion of the reservoirs 47 and 48 has not been shown in detail, but such pierceable cap portions are well known in the art of refilling butane-fuelled cigarette lighters. The reservoirs 47 and 48 can be extracted, by removal of the end cap 32, and replaced by fresh charged reservoirs.

Referring now to FIG. 4, and FIG. 4A there is shown a third embodiment of cigarette treating device comprising a body 49 having an internal wall 50 defining a cylindrical chamber 51 in which a casing 52 is longitudinally slidable in fluid-tight sealing manner. The wall 50 also serves to define, in body 49, a chamber 53 to receive a cigarette 54 butted at one end against an internal wall 55, and at the other end against a circular rim 56. A closure 57, fitting in sealing manner to the body 49, can be removed to permit insertion and removal of the cigarette. On the wall 55 there is mounted an outlet nozzle 58 communicating with two inlet passages 50 and 60 which open in the wall 50.

At one end, the casing 52 has a rim 61 for grasping with fingers to draw the casing in the direction of the arrow "B." At its other end, the casing contains a mixing and control valve 62 having inlet openings to which are connected a reservoir 63 for propellant fluid, and two reservoirs 64, 65 for treating product. The valve 62 has a first outlet 66 for propellant, and a second outlet 67 for treating product. In the valve 62 there is provided a recess 68 in which is positioned a control lever 69 for opening the valve. On the inside surface of the body 49, adjacent the end remote from the valve 62, there is provided a removable screw 70 acting as a stop lug. The casing 52 is provided with an external longitudinal groove (not shown) in which the lug 70 rides during longitudinal movement of the casing with respect to the body 49. When the casing 52 has been pulled out to its fullest extend, the lug 70 abuts against the control lever 69 as seen in FIG. 4A and thereby opens the valve, and at the same time prevents further outward movement of the casing.

The operation is as follows:

With the casing in the inward position shown in FIG. 4 the closure 57 is removed, and a cigarette is inserted. The closure is then replaced. The casing 52 is then pulled firmly outwardly, with respect to the body 49, in the direction of the arrow "B" as shown in FIG. 4A. This causes a lowering of pressure in the chamber 51, and this is communicated to the end of the cigarette abutting against the rim 56. When the casing reaches the end of its stroke, the valve control lever 69 is actuated to open the valve and release propellant and treating fluid through the respective outlets 66 and 67 into the respective passages 59 and 60 which are aligned therewith as seen in FIG. 4A, and thence through the nozzle 58 into the other end of the cigarette. The casing 52 is then pushed back into rest position, the closure 57 is removed, and the treated cigarette extracted.

The casing 52, containing the valve 62, and the reservoirs 63, 64, 65 would be removable as a unit, and replaceable by a fresh charge unit.

REferring now to FIG. 5, which shows a fourth embodiment of cigarette treating device, the device comprises a cylindrical body 71 on which a casing 72, having a hole 72A in its end wall, is slidable longitudinally in fluid-tight sealing manner. In the body 71 there is provided an apertured internal wall 73 against which there can be abutted one end of a cigarette 74. The other end of the cigarette is seated against a lug 75 on the internal surface of the body. In the body there is positioned a mixing valve 76 having respective inlets to which there are connected a reservoir 77 for propellant fluid, and reservoirs 78 for treating product. On the outlet of the mixing valve 76 there is secured an outlet control valve 79 which is suction-responsive, that is to say if a lower than atmospheric pressure is applied to its outlet nozzle 79A an internal diaphragm or bellows (not shown) is actuated to open a needle valve and allow escape of the mixture of propellant and treating product coming from the reservoirs.

The operation is as follows:

The casing 72 is drawn completely off the body 71. A cigarette 74 is then placed in the position shown. The casing is then replaced on the body, in the position shown. Then, with a finger placed over the hole 72A in the end of the casing, to seal it, the casing is pulled in the direction of the arrow "C," but not completely off the body. The movement of the casing causes a lowering of pressure within the casing, and this is transmitted, through the cigarette, to the nozzle 79a. The suction-responsive valve 79 accordingly opens and allows a mixture of propellant and treating product to flow into the cigarette until such time as the equalization of pressure in the casing allows the valve 79 to close again. The casing is then pulled fully off the body, leaving the end hole uncovered, and the treated cigarette extracted.

The body 71 has a removable end cap 80 which can be unscrewed to permit removal and replacement of the assembly consisting of the valves 76, 79a and the reservoirs 77, 78 and their replacement by a fresh charged assembly.

Referring now to FIG. 6 and FIG. 6A, which shows a fifth embodiment of cigarette treating device, the device comprises a cylindrical tubular body 81 which is fitted at one end with a screw-threaded cap 82 having an air entry opening 83. In the wall of the body there is formed a rib 84 and this, together with a packing ring 85, serves as a bearing for a longitudinally slidable hollow cylindrical casing 86. One end of the casing is closed by an end wall 87, and the other end is open and is provided with an internal flange 88 which serves as a stop to abut against the rib 84 and prevent complete withdrawal of the casing off the body. Within the body 81 there is a longitudinal internal wall 89 which defines an internal chamber 90 to receive a cigarette 91. In the chamber are provided apertured transverse walls 92 and 93 against which the respective ends of the cigarette are butted. In a chamber 94, open to atmosphere through the opening 83, there is seated a manifold block having a first passage 96 which provides a communication between the air entry chamber 94 and the opening of the wall 92, and a second passage 97 which provides a communication between a port 98, in the wall 89, and the opening of the wall 92. In a chamber 99 there is disposed a mixing and control valve 100 to which are coupled a reservoir 101 for propellant fluid, and two reservoirs 102 for treating product. The valve 100 has an outlet port 103 aligned with the port 98. In a recess 104 of the valve 100 there is a lug 105 which, when depressed, opens the valve. In a recess 106 of the wall of the body 81 there is provided a cam block 107 urged outwardly by a spring 107a. In the wall of the body 81 there is provided a longitudinal slot 108 of suitable dimensions to allow passage of a cigarette. A similar slot 109 is provided in the wall of the casing 86. An outturned wall 110 around the slot in the body forms a sliding seal with the casing 86.

The operation is as follows:

With the slot 109 aligned with the slot 108, a cigarette is inserted into the body and pressed into position with its ends abutting the walls 92 and 93. The casing 86 is then rotated sufficiently on the body 81 to take the slots 109 and 108 out of alignment, and to effectively seal off the chamber 90. The casing 86 is then pulled in the direction of the arrow "C," causing a lowering of pressure within the casing. When the casing has been pulled to its maximum extent, the internal flange 88 of its open end rides along the cam block and opens the valve 100 as shown in FIG. 6A. Accordingly, there is then simultaneous drawing in of atmospheric air, through the passage 96, and feed of mixed propellant and treating fluid, through the passage 97, into one end of the cigarette, at the wall 92, and through the cigarette to the other end adjacent the wall 93. The casing is then pushed fully back in the reverse direction, and rotated to bring the slots 108 and 109 into alignment to permit the treated cigarette to be removed.

The valve 100, and the reservoirs 101 and 102 would be made as an integral assembly which could be extracted and replaced by removal of the end cap 82.

In the above description with reference to all of the embodiments illustrated, it has been assumed that the article to be treated is a cigarette. It will be clear that other elongated bodies containing tobacco, e.g. cigarillos and cigars could be inserted by adopting suitable dimensions for the device. In particular, instead of a manufactured smoking article, there could be used a tubular container such as a cartridge into which loose tobacco, such as pipe tobacco, could be inserted prior to introduction into the device. Moreover, in certain instances, tobacco could be inserted loose into the receiving chamber of the device, see for example the embodiment of FIG. 1.

All of the embodiments illustrated provide for substantially simultaneous application of both suction and pressure to the article to be treated. However, such simultaneous application is not essential, and sequential operation could be used, e.g. by inserting a known time delay or lost-motion device in the valve-operating linkage. The details of the mixing and control valves in all of the embodiments form no part of the present invention and any conventional valves may be used for this purpose.

The apparatus could be associated with other smokers' items, such as pyrophonic lighters, cigarette or cigar cases, tobacco containers and the like, and could be provided as an adjunct to vending machines.

Claims

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating prepared tobacco comprising means for supporting the tobacco in an enclosure, a source of treating substance, means communicating said source of treating substance with said enclosure, means for applying a differential of fluid pressure across said enclosure and through the tobacco, said means for applying a differential of fluid pressure across said enclosure comprising a body means housing said enclosure, and a movable means slidable sealingly with respect to said body means and defining a chamber communicating with said enclosure at a location remote, with respect to said tobacco, from said means communicating said source of treating substance with said enclosure, said chamber being expanded to create a suction, and thus a flow of the treating substance into the tobacco, on sliding of said movable means with respect to said body means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for applying a differential of fluid pressure across said enclosure comprises means for applying suction at one location of said enclosure, and means for introducing propellant fluid and treating substance at another location thereof.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for introducing propellant fluid and treating substance comprises reservoir means, portions of which define a source of propellant fluid and treating substance, and further portions of which define an outlet communicating with said other location of said enclosure, and valve means operatively interposed between said source of propellant fluid and treating substance and said outlet, said valve means being opened on movement of said movable means to a suction-creating position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said movable means includes a bellows, said valve means including a control means operatively engaged by a portion of said bellows to open said valve means on movement of said bellows to a suction-creating position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said movable means comprises a casing means slidable sealingly with respect to said body means, said valve means including a control means, and actuating means operatively connected to said control means to open said valve means on movement of said casing means with respect to said body means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said actuating means includes a resilient means attached to one end to said control means and at an opposite end to a portion of said casing means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said control means comprises a cam means slidingly engaged by portions of said casing means on movement of said casing means with respect to said body means.